Chapter 1 / The Meaning of Clothing and Fashion
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artistic expression, showing their creativity. This
can attract favorable attention and contribute to
feelings of self-esteem. Wearing clothing that is
artistically designed, or combining garments in
artistic ways, makes us more attractive. Further
adornment can occur with jewelry and makeup.
Large sums of money are spent each year on
products to adorn our bodies and improve our
personal appearance.
Culture often determines the type of
adornment people use. Culture is a society’s set
of social norms or values. The way one culture
views beauty may be different from how others
view it. Some cultural groups paint their bodies
or wear rings through their nose, lips, or ears.
Folk costumes illustrate the different fabric
textures and patterns that cultures consider to be
beautiful. The desirability of certain decorations
is determined by the standards and traditions of
each society, 1-6.
Peoples’ ideas about beauty and adornment
change over time as fashions change. Also,
various people have different thoughts about
beauty and adornment because of personal
experiences. For instance, a professional athlete
and an opera singer would probably have
different adornment preferences.
Identifi cation
Identifi cation is the process of establishing
or describing who someone is or what he or she
does. Clothing identifi es people in these ways. By
dressing like others in a group, clothing satisfi es
the psychological need to belong. For instance,
people belonging to certain professions, social
groups, associations, or countries often dress
alike. It indicates what “role” people play or what
skills they have.
Uniforms are one way of identifying roles.
Uniforms are articles of clothing that are alike
and specifi c to everyone within a certain
group of people. As symbols of group identity,
uniforms provide a sense of belonging, such
as for members of a sports team. Uniforms can
show positions of authority, such as for police or
military offi cers. They can also decrease racial,
religious, and other barriers, since all people in a
particular group appear to be alike.
Identifi cation can also be achieved with
emblems, colors, badges, patches, special
jewelry, and ceremonial garments. Class rings
identify the wearers with others in the group,
giving a psychological feeling of unity. Caps and
gowns identify graduating seniors. Wedding
dresses identify brides, 1-7.
The regular clothing of many people can
be considered a type of “psychological uniform,”
because everyone dresses almost alike. Most
students wear the same general kinds of pants,
shirts, sweaters, and shoes to school. Male and
female lawyers might wear dark suits to work.
People of similar ages and interests often gain
confi dence and acceptance by dressing alike.
They feel comfortable and secure by following
informal “rules of dress” that are set by silent
understanding.
Some businesses and schools have dress
codes that are written or unwritten rules of
appropriate attire. Although uniforms may or
may not be worn, clothing must fall within a
certain range of options. Besides achieving
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1-6 This woman in Kenya is wearing
traditional handmade jewelry that might look
unusual if worn in other cultures.